Could Chris Christie's pugnacity work against him in a national race? (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)

(Newser)
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Sure, Chris Christie's pugnacity has served him well on the statewide stage—but will it continue to work on the national one? He'd better not assume anything: Winning "fosters hubris and often reinforces the wrong lessons," writes Matt Lewis in the Week. "So far, Christie's confrontational style has mostly come across as refreshing." But "what happens when MSNBC plays video of him yelling at someone for the millionth time, and after George Will or Charles Krauthammer writes the column about the danger of an angry man having his finger on the button?"

"The problem isn't just that Christie's style won't always work on the presidential trail. It's that it might backfire ... horribly," Lewis notes, citing Scott Galupo in the American Conservative: Will Christie yell at seniors over Medicare, or farmers over subsidies? If he becomes a "viable threat" to a Democrat, the media could turn on him, Lewis writes, quoting his "liberal sparring partner" Bill Scher: "If Christie yells at a teacher at a town hall in Iowa, that teacher is going to get a lot of time on television afterward—in a way that these people (who) get berated in New Jersey don't." Click for Lewis' full piece.

This ain't no Republican! Recent flip fop on gay marriage, appointing a Dem for interim senate term, seat then won by Dem.............This is 400 pounds of "Liberal Lite", typical of the NEW Republican party...............Liberalism is cancer, and it's spread to the GOP...........

BradCS

Nov 9, 2013 3:21 PM CST

Chris Christie is an establishment darling, just like Bush, Obama, and the Clintons. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's the next president. Watch Goldman Sachs, they only throw their money behind the next pre-chosen president. Right now they're paying Hilary 500k per speaking appearance, so I'd say she's the front runner.